Disaster assessment team ready for Kadavu

An awareness outreach will also take place for the communities on actions to take in case of a tsunami, earthquake or landslide.

Ajoint assessment team led by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) will also provide psychosocial support for communities affected by the 5.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Fiji last Sunday. Parts of Kadavu were visibly affected by landslides.

The team departs Suva for Kadavu on Tuesday. No reports of injury or loss of lives have been received. But the office is still prioritising that risk assessment will be done for the safety of the communities on the island. An awareness outreach will take place for the communities on actions to take in case of a tsunami, earthquake or landslide. NDMO acting director Litiana

Bainimarama said the priority areas were Lomati, Talaulia, Dagai, Tawava and Rt Eliki Memorial School.

“Moving into the wet season (November to April) our concern is that these communities face the risk of landslide in the event of a heavy downpour,” she said. “Options are being explored with PA Kadavu for evacuation should the need arise.”

University of the South Pacific Geography lecturer Dr Gareth Fabbro outlined the following about the Kadavu earthquake:

“Nabukelevu is a potentially active volcano, as it last erupted in about 1660. However, the recent earthquakes are not cause for alarm, because they are fairly common in this part of the world. “The volcano should be monitored for signs of increased activity, such as shallow earthquakes, increased gas emissions, and uplift of the ground around the volcano. The recent earthquake itself is not enough to cause an eruption, and is probably related to the subduction.”

Fiji is part of the Pacific ‘ring of fire’.